John clement



(No Model.)

J. CLEMENT.

LEAD PENGIL CASE.

Patented Aug. `25, 1896.

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JOHN CLEMENT, OF BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND.

LIEAD=PENC-IL CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 566,444, dated August 25, 1896. Application filed February 26,1896. Serial No. 580,821. (No model.) Fatented in England October 27, 1894, No. 20,573.

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN CLEMENT, a subject of Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Birmingham, in the county of Varwick, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lead-Pencil Cases and other Like Cases or Holders, of which the following is a specification, this invention having been patented to me in Great Britain under date of October 27, 1894, No. 20,573.

My invention has reference more particularly to lead-pencil cases, but can also be applied to other like cases or holders, such, for instance, as cases or holders for` crayons, toothpicks, and crochet-hooks; and this invention consists of-the herein-described improved means for propelling the lead (or the crayon, toothpick, or crochet-hook) from the case by a step-by-step movement ready for use and for permitting the return of the same to the case when not in use.

I will describe my invention as applied to a lead-pencil case and refer to the accompanying drawings, on which- Figure l is a sectional elevation of a leadpencil case constructed according to this invention, shown with the lead protruding ready foruse. Fig. 2 shows the same parts as Fig. l, but with the lead moved down a step by pressing the cap, as hereinafter described. Fig. 3 is a part sectional elevation of the said pencil-case, showing the propelling parts in the same positions as in Fig. l, but with the lead protrudedas in Fig. 2. Figs. 4l, 5, and 6 show separate parts of the lead gripping and propelling mechanism of the said pencil-case.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.

Within the outer casing A of the pencilcase and protruding through the top of the same I provide a tubular pusher B, made with a cap b at the top or otherwise arranged so that the pusher can be pushed down the pencil-case to propel the lead. A

coiled spring C Within the outer casing A acts between the collar a', fixed inthe pencilcase, and the collar b2, fixed on the pusher B, thus moving the pusher B back to its normal position (shown in Fig. l) with the collar b2 resting against the stop-collar a2,

fixed in' the pencil-case. The pusher B is made tubular, so that the lead can be inserted therein by first removing the cap b. The bottom end of the pusher B s slit longitudinally and formed as jaws, preferably four in number, marked b3 b4 b5 b, adapted to grasp the lead D when pressed together by the loose collar E, (shown separately by Fig. 5,) which is provided on the lower part of the pusher B, and which is free to move up and down the same through a short space. The outside surfacesof the jaws b3 b4 b5 b6,on which the collar E fits, are, as shown, made conical or taper larger toward the bottom, so that when, ashereinafter described, the pusher B is by the spring O moved up the pencil-case A the collar E comes in contact with the stationary collar c or stop ixed in the outer casing, and is thereby moved down the outerinclined surfaces of the jaws b3 b4 195196, thus forcing the jaws together and causing them to grasp the lead, as shown in Figs. l and 3. When the pusher B, with the collar E on the jaws b3 b4 b5 be, has been moved down, as

hereinafter described, and shown in Fig. 2,

through a certain space, the collar E comes in contact with the tuck or stop as, formed in the lower part of the pencil-case A, so that the motion of the'collar E is thereby arrested, and as the jaws b3 b4 b5 h6 then move out of the collar E they spring open, as in Figs. 2 and 4L, and release the lead D. In front of the jaws b3 b4 b5 b of the pusherB, and within the nose or bottom end a4 of the pencil-case, through which the lead D protrudes when the pencil is in use, there is a spring F, (shown separately by Fig. 6,) which is made with upwardly projecting springjaws,` preferably four in number, f f2 f3 f4, whichfgrip the lead D, but not so tightly as to prevent the lead D being pushed forward between the jaws f f2 f3 f4 by the pusher B, as hereinafter described.

The pencil-case above described acts as follows: When the pencil-case is in use and the parts are in their normal positions, as shown by Fig. 1, the lead D is grasped by both the spring F in the nose a4 of the encil-case A and by the jaws b3 b4 b5 h6 of the pusher B. To propel the lead D by a stepby-step movement, the pressure-cap b is pressed into the case A, so that the pusher IOO B, grasping the lead D, will be moved forward through a short space until the collar E is arrested, as shown in Fig. 2, by coming in Contact with the tuck or stop a3, which causes the jaws b3 b4 b5 h6 to release the lead D, the Jforward movement of which latter now ceases. Upon the pressure being removed from the pressure-cap Z9 the coiled spring C moves the pusher B upward again, (the lead D meanwhile bein g held stationary by the spring F in the nose a4 of the pencilcase,) so that after the pusher B has been moving through a short space the collar E will, by the jaws b5 b4 b5 b, be also moved up with the pusher B until the collar Eis arrested by the fixed collar a', which will then force the jaws h3 b4 b5 h6 together to take a fresh grip on the lead D as they come to rest. The parts are shown in this position by Fig. 3. Then when the pusher B is again pressed down the lead D is again carried forward by the jaws b3 b4 b5 b through a short space, as above described, until again released by the collar E coming in contact with the tuek or stop d3, and then when the pressure is released the lead D is held stationary and the jaws b3 b4 b5 Z)6 return again and take a fresh grip on the lead D, as stated above, and thus the lead D is propelled a short distance each time the pressure-cap t' is pressed down.

This invention is applied to cases or holders for crayons, toothpicks, crochet-hooks, and the like, similarly as above described with reference to a lead-pencil case, the crayon, toothpick, crochet-hook, or the like taking the place of the lead D.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a pencil-ease or other like case or holderl the combination of the outer casing made with a spring at its lower end adapted to grip the lead or the like protruding therethrough, a tubular pusher containing the lead or the like pressed upwardly through the top of the ease by a spring the lower end of said pusher being made with grasping-jaws which tend to spring outwardly and release the lead or the like, a loose collar ou said grasping-jaws, and stops in said casing which limit the travel of said collar so as to close the jaws onto the lead or the like and allow the jaws to spring open at the proper times and force the lead or the like forward by a step-by-step movement, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN CLEMENT. Witnesses:

CHARLES BoswoRTH KELLEY, HERBERT WHITEHoUsE. 

